Eryngium Plant Named &#39;Neptunes Gold&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Eryngium  cultivar named ‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ is disclosed, characterized by golden foliage and large inflorescences. The new cultivar is a  Eryngium , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Eryngium zabelii

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘NEPTUNES GOLD’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of chance discovery by the inventor. This new variety, hereinafter referred to as ‘NEPTUNES GOLD’, was discovered as a chance seedling by the inventor, Neil Alcock. The seed parent is believed to be Erygium zabelii., unpatented and the pollen parent undetermined. This interesting new variety was discovered in the inventor's garden during 2008 as an individual seedling plant.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor first propagated ‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ by root cuttings during 2009. The inventor continued controlled testing and propagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. Subsequently, several generations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ as a new and distinct Eryngium cultivar:

1. Unique golden foliage

2. Large flower size

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the presumed seed parent variety Eryngium zabelii. Plants of the new cultivar ‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ however, produce unique golden foliage, whereas the seed parent produces green foliage.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ can be compared to the commercial variety Eryngium zabelii ‘Big Blue’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,636. Plants of the new cultivar ‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ are similar to plants of ‘Big Blue’ in most horticultural characteristics. Plants of the new cultivar ‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ however, produce unique golden foliage, which changes color during the seasons, whereas ‘Big Blue’ has green foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ grown outdoors in High Hurstwood, Uckfield, United Kingdom. The plant is approximately 4 years old, and is shown in a 28 cm container. FIG. 2 shows a close up of a typical flower of the new variety. FIG. 3 illustrates a typical flower, with measurement perspective. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ plants grown outdoors in High Hurstwood, Uckfield, United Kingdom. Plants are approximately 4 years old, in a 28 cm nursery container. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Eryngium zabelii ‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 1 month at approximately 20°             to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, densely fibrous.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 2 months at             approximately 20° to 25° C.         -   Typical propagation method.—Root cuttings or tissue culture.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous young roots, very well             branched. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial, upright growth habit.         -   Age of plant described.—4 years.         -   Container size.—28 cm.         -   Height.—58 cm.         -   Plant spread.—40 cm.         -   Branching characteristics.—Flowering stem typically produces             3 to 5 branches.         -   Primary lateral branches.—Quantity: 3 to 5 Length: 8 cm             Diameter: Approximately 1 cm, Quantity: 3 to 5 Texture:             Smooth, glabrous Color: Longitudinal stripes, near RHS 154C             and 144B. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: alternate, simple Quantity: Approximately             between 5 and 8 per main branch. Average Length:             Approximately 9.5 cm. Average Width: Approximately 10.5 cm.             Shape: Palmately lobed Apex: Acuminate Base: Cordate Margin:             biserrate to serulate, erose, undulate. Prickles at margin,             about 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm in length, close to 154D in color             Texture of top surface: smooth, glabrous, leathery Texture             of bottom surface: smooth, glabrous, leathery Leaf internode             length: 7.5 cm Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 154A flushed with Yellow 6A Young foliage under             side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 154A flushed with Yellow 6A             Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS between Yellow-Green             144B and N144A Mature foliage under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 145B Venation: Type: Palmatifid Venation color             zipper side: Near RHS between 150C and 150D Venation color             under side: Near RHS 145C Petiole: Length: 13.7 cm Width: 4             mm Color: longitudinal stripes, 154C and 144B Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—May to July (southern UK).         -   Begins flowering after how many months.—7 months from             planting.         -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Single rotate flowers arranged             on dense cylindrical flower heads; flowers sessile;             inflorescences terminal or arising from leaf axils; freely             flowering habit with usually about 145 flowers developing             per inflorescence. Flowers face upright and outwardly.         -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—25 days, after fully             opened. Flowers persistent.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Approximately 2.1 cm             (excluding involucral bracts), 11.5 cm (including involucral             bracts) Height: Approximately 2.8 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 12 cm. Diameter: 0.7 cm.         -   Individual flower size.—Diameter: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Height: Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Petals.—Petal arrangement: five in a single whorl Size:             Length: 0.25 cm. Width: 0.15 cm. Shape: oblong Margin:             entire Apex: emarginate Base: truncate Petal quantity: five             Texture: smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Petals: When opening: Upper surface: A color between             RHS between Violet-Blue 95B and Blue 99B, coming 95D towards             apex. Lower surface: A color between RHS between Violet-Blue             95B and Blue 99B, coming 95D towards apex. Fully opened:             Upper surface: A color between RHS between Violet-Blue 95B             and Blue 99B, coming 95D towards apex. Lower surface: A             color between RHS between Violet-Blue 95B and Blue 99B,             coming 95D towards apex.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: obovate Length: Approximately 0.2 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 0.15 cm. Color: A color between             Yellow-Green 150D and 154D, becoming between Blue 101C and             101D at the time of opening Sepals: Length: 0.2 cm Width: 0.             lcm Shape: lanceolate Margin: entire Color Interior Surface:             Near RHS Green 137C Exterior Surface: Near RHS Green 137C             Texture: Glabrous. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5 Filament length: Approximately 2 mm             Filament color: Too minute to accurately measure with RHS             chart.         -   Anthers.—Length: less than 1 mm Shape: linear Color: Too             minute to accurately measure with RHS chart.         -   Pistil.—Number: 2 Length: Approximately 0.9 cm Style:             Length: Approximately 0.7 cm. Color: Near RHS Violet-Blue             95C Stigma: Shape: rounded Color: Near RHS Violet-Blue 95C             Ovary Color: Near RHS 145A. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Disease and pest resistance.—Not observed to be susceptible             nor resistant to normal diseases and pests of Eryngium             zabelii.         -   Temperature tolerance.—USDA Zone 5 through 9.         -   Fruit/seed production.—Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Eryngium plant named ‘NEPTUNES GOLD’ as herein illustrated and described. 